2036 John Rolfe Parkway Richmond, VA 23238 Phone: (804) 726-8556 Fax: (804) 726-8557 Email: info@albiscompany.com
Statistics reveal that out of about 15 would-be business buyers, only one will actually buy a business. It is important that potential sellers be knowledgeable on what buyers go through to actually become business owners. This is especially true for those who have started their own business or have forgotten what they went thorough prior to buying their business.
For a business to sell, there has to be a seller - and a buyer. The buyer of today is a bit different than the one of yesterday. Today's buyer is not a risk-taker, is concerned about the financials, and seems to be overly concerned about price. Unfortunately, buyers have to understand that they cannot buy someone else's financial statements.
Today's independent business marketplace attracts a wide variety of buyers eager for a piece of ownership action. Buyers of small businesses are most likely replacing lost jobs or searching for a happier alternative to corporate life. Buyers of mid-sized and large operations are, typically, private investment companies seeking businesses to build and eventually sell for a profit.
Most prospective business buyers really don't know from the outset the exact type of business they want to buy. Experienced business brokers and intermediaries know that many business buyers end up with what is sometimes a far cry from what first captured their imagination.
In many cases, the buyer and seller reach a tentative agreement on the sale of the business, only to have it fall apart. There are reasons this happens, and, once understood, many of the worst deal-smashers can be avoided.
Selling one's business can be a traumatic and emotional event. In fact, "seller's remorse" is one of the major reasons that deals don't close.
Why does it take so long to sell a business? Price and terms are the biggest reasons.
Before answering the question, it makes sense to first ask why people want to be in business for themselves. What are their motives? There have been many surveys addressing this question. The words may be different, but the idea behind them and the order in which they are listed are almost always the same.
Keep in mind that the best time to consider selling is when business is good, the business is running profitably, and many of the above “value-adders” are in place.
This question can only be answered by addressing other related questions, specifically: Who’s asking and for what purpose?
Providing a business valuation is more than just analyzing financial statements and records. Although the process is complex, the first step is to gather the necessary information. Business owners can make this a lot easier by maintaining good records on an ongoing basis. Although audited statements are certainly preferable, most appraisers and business intermediaries are accustomed to working with the company’s own financial records. Company officials should understand that the people doing the valuation are not charged with verifying the figures but can only work with what is provided to them. Here are some of the areas that are assessed by those doing the valuation:
A proper valuation, if done on a regular basis, can show any increase/decrease in value. A valuation should also be performed when considering selling.